liver nodule/lesion

[wq2]

I am 42 year old male and have child-A cirrhosis caused probably by obesity, but it might be alcoholic, since in the 3-4 yrs right before I was diagnosed, I was abusing alcohol.

Lost the weight, quit the alcohol, I do not smoke or use drugs.

A ctscan found an unspecified 1 cm X 1.1 cm hypervascular (in the arterial phase?) nodule in segment V of my liver not central, but peripherically located.

Had an MRI which reported said nodule as a focal lesion.

The doctors said the nodule is too small and they cannot say if it is a tumour or not.

My alpha fetoprotein levels are normal.

My testosterone is a bit high, ctscan and US showed normal adrenal glands and testes, doctor suspects it is due to collateral circulation going through my gonadal vein (?).

I am to have another MRI in 3 months.
How worried should I be?

Thank you for your attention

[wq2]

Ok, thanks.

[Londres70]

The Child-Pugh score of A Cirrhosis does not mean no problems or symptoms; it is referring to the prognosis.

I got so focused on the lesion that I forgot you have cirrhosis too; hence the Hepatologist/Liver Specialist.

See what these lab results are and if ok follow up in three months for rescanning.  

[wq2]

I have got child-A cirrhosis, which means I have no symptoms, no problems and my liver panel  is pretty good.

The liver transplant doctor is the same surgeon that treats liver cancer, so he is supposed to be the liver nodule expert guy.

If cancer is confirmed, due to its size, location, and some other factors, I become, with luck (odd use of the word), a prime candidate for liver transplant.

Sincerely, I would prefer no to need to have that type of luck.

[Londres70]

So, sounds like they are taking the wait and see approach for now and rescan in 3 months.  Yes, labs are NOT going to be an effective way to give a definite diagnosis of Liver CA; you will need pathology and/or endoscopy to know exactly what you are dealing with.  Transplant Surgeon?  Is there anything else going on with your liver besides what you mentioned?  

Are you having any symptoms?  What is your liver profile like?    

[wq2]

MRI in 3 months no biopsies, as they are not too useful in my case.
Too many false positives and negatives, besides the risk of, should it be cancer, of spreading the disease.
The docs also ordered some blood tests, warning that they are not very effective for liver cancer.

[Londres70]

So, what else did this transplant surgeon tell you?  

Any other imaging and/or biopsies planned?

[wq2]

Thanks,
Yes,  I am seeing I GI, first he scared the heck out of me, then, after a consult with a transplant surgeon, he, kind of,  gave me a 50/50 chance of being benign.
He sounded very iffy.

[Londres70]

I would be concerned, but not freaking out just yet; still don't know what exactly you are dealing with.

Are you seeing a GI Specialist?